What is Visual Art?
Turn your passion and appreciation for Visual Art into a career with Owensboro Community
& Technical College's (OCTC) Visual Art program. The Associate in Fine Arts (AFA)
in Visual Art is designed for students who plan to transfer to universities or institutes
that offer the Bachelor in Fine Arts Degree.
Start here and realize the low cost of tuition while developing your professional
artist portfolio. Take advantage of the small class sizes, utilize our downtown art
studios, exhibit your artwork in the Dayman Gallery, and stay active in the OCTC Art
Club where students create artworks that may finance trips to see great museums and
galleries around the region. Students refine their skill and knowledge in painting,
drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and more. Our students benefit from working directly
with instructors and visiting artists that exhibit their work regionally, nationally,
and internationally. Through the Sister Cities and Regions programs, students have
the opportunity to study abroad and visit some of the most celebrated museums and
galleries in Europe.
What are my career choices?
With talent, skill, and credentials a career in art is a valid possibility for today's student. According to a 2020 survey by the Kentucky Labor Market, art occupations earn an average salary of $45,900 in our state.
An AFA degree will prepare you for future academic and career paths in:
- Animation and Illustration
- Art Education
- Art History and Criticism
- Art Therapy
- Arts Management
- Gallery and Museum occupations
- Graphic Design
- Professional Studio Artist in Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, and more
- Or, continue your education and receive a Bachelor in Fine Art Degree
What classes do I have to take?
Some courses you will take include Art History, Ceramics, Drawing, Design (2D and 3D) Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Survival Skills for the Artist. Other unique courses, such as Directed Studies in Art, explore a variety of in-depth topics such as Color Theory and Mixing. In fulfillment of the AFA degree, students participate in a Dayman Gallery graduation exhibition during their final semester.
What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?
Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) Degree and Transfer
- Visual Art - AFA (60 credit hours)
Advisors: Please, visit SharePoint for the current MS Excel Academic Plan.
Additional Information
The Associate in Fine Arts Degree in Visual Art is a part of the career path for today's artist. OCTC is one of three colleges in the state of Kentucky that offers this degree.
For transfer, five universities in Kentucky offer the Bachelor in Fine Arts degree (BFA): Western Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Northern Kentucky University, and Murray State University. Most art institutes in the United States grant the BFA as well.
In the Midwest and South, some options for transfer are the Art Institute of Chicago, Memphis School of Art, Heron Institute of Art and Savannah School of Art.
Length of Program
You can earn an Associate in Fine Arts degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
Please like the OCTC Dayman Gallery and OCTC Art Club on Facebook and to be involved with art opportunities on campus and in the community!
